Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-19
AMERICAN BAR AsSOCIATION.
ing at Saratoga by Hon. Thomas
j. Hemmes.

A Saratoga (N. " special to the
Baltimore San Of the 18th says: The
tenth annual meeting of the American
Ear Association opened at Putnam Hall
to-day. Over201 lawyers were present
Mr.. Edward Hinkly, of Baltimore, is
secretary. Mr.. G. c. Bonny, OF Chi
cago, introduced Mr.. Thomas ).
Semmes, of New Orleans, president of
the association, who delivered the pre-
sident's address Mr.. Semmes's address
was an able review Of the changes in
legislation, State and Federal, during
the past year lie commenced with
the interstate commerce act. He
said 1.-THE Interpretation Of the long
and short haul section seems TO have
given the most trouble to those
charged with the. execution of
the law, Us well as those who
are expected to obey it. To determine
what are substantially similar circum-
stances and conditions is no less diff
cult than the definition of special cases
III which the commission may authorize
n common carrier TO charge less for
longer than for shorter distances. Con-
gress also passed an act providing for
the bringing of suits against the Gov
eminent tie anti-poligamY net has
been amended, and aliens, and corpora
tions whose stock is principally held
ly aliens, can no longer acquire real
estate in the Territories" Mr.. Semmes
tECn proceeded to review the most im-
portant acts passedby the legislatures Of
tie various States. Forty-iour divorce
acts have been passed In Delaware. but
rs compensation there has been passed
as act Furnishing the dcsertiOn OF mar
ned women and children with heavy
penalties Illinois las passed an act
prohibiting marriage between first con
sins, dtnouncing il as inccstuous, and
divorce hos been rendered more diff
cult in Michigan, and the procedure in
cases Of action FOR divorce has been
regulated. Prohibition depends by a
recent act on local option, ana bounty
Of enc cent is offered for the scalp of
every sparrow. New York, with less
mercy, makes it duty 10 starye the
sIsrrow, lecause it Furnishes him
who gives the poor bird food or shell
ter. Before long this pitiless Legisla-
ture viii render impossible the answer
10 the question WHO killed cock
rorin.' IN 1855 Nevada adopted an
act 10 promote Temperance by prohi
biting the p.acticc OF treating, but II
cast such a shadow over the state. and
was 50 ropueuant to the good nature Of
the people, that the first thing tie
Legislature did after providing ortheir
own compensation was to repeal the
prcyoniion-Of-t treating act, bat making
II q mis0cmcanor for a civil officer -
become 80 intoxicated as to he unit tO
reform his duties. The most curious
statute rasscl in North Carolina is one
cXacting "a fee o. $50 from Fyps;es PIE
tending to tell fortunes, and then, with
extraordinary Snng. bO'd, declaring that
the payment Of the fee shall not exempt
pyIsies from indictment for practicing
thclr art. Ohio is the onl y place where
a husband is entitled to dover in
his wife's real estate. The laws in re-
gard 70 colortd children il schools,
known as the black acts, have been re-
pealcd. South Carolina furnishes ex-
ampics Of queer legislation. 4 tax OF
three mills for county purposes IS
levied on the property Of each county
with the exception Of certain counties
in which higher rate is charged. The
list Of excepted counties includes every
county in the State. Tennessee has
invented new word, using "barber
Jig in the act prohibiting shaving on
Sunday.
The Vermont Legislature passed a
resolution thanking the mayor Of Win
chester for his kind promise to protect
the marble monument erected at Win
chester in memory of the Vermont
soldius killed at the battles OF Win
chester and Cedar Greek, and it was a
beautiful manifestation OF fraternal
sentiment.